That's great, Altern8!

Sep 21 2009 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

A BUSINESSMAN more used to computers and keyboards has got involved with the world of glitter and dance by sponsoring a talented schoolgirl.

John Sharpe, director of Altern8 Business Solutions in Wellmeadow Street, Paisley, is sponsoring dancing queen Jay Carr, seven, in her upcoming competition, Festival4Stars.

He got chatting to Jay’s dad Brian and agreed to sponsor her and pay for accommodation and travel to the competition, which is being held in Scarborough at the end of the month.

He’s also given her a pink computer to help with her schoolwork while she prepares for the show.

John said: “Brian was telling me it was getting harder to find sponsorship for Jay for the bigger competitions, so I said I’d help out.

“I’ve seen Jay dance before and seen her improve, she’s just getting better and better.

“She’s going to need a bigger bedroom soon, some of the trophies she wins are bigger than her!”

Altern8 is a computer and laptop repair company which opened its shop on Wellmeadow Street, Paisley, in June.

John added: “I think it’s good to support local talent and show that not everything is bad here. I’m also in talks with a local football club about sponsoring their shirts.”

Festival4Stars starts on Friday, September 25, till Sunday, september 27, in Scarborough, and Renfrew girl Jay is competing in the under-12 solo dance category.

She already has several titles to her name including World, British, Scottish and European champion in under-eight slow dance, described as a mixture of gymnastics and ballet.

The St James’ Primary pupil has attended Robert Hamilton’s Dancepoint Musical Theatre School in Partick for the last two and a half years.

Her proud mum Kim said: “Jay competes regularly, we’re away quite a lot.

“She loves dancing and goes three times a week to classes. Her big cousin went and Jay fancied it and she’s just shown a natural talent for it.

“This is the first time she’s ever taken part in a talent show and the whole family are going down to support her.”

Kim, 33, Brian, 35, and her two-year-old brother Leo are going down to see Jay perform in her category and as part of a group with her friends from dance school.

Kim said the whole family were grateful for John’s support.

She said: “It’s wonderful, we can’t thank him enough for how generous he’s been. Especially in these times, for a local business to be handing out money like this is fantastic.”